100 Girl Scout leaders converge on capital city Saturday

More than 100 troop leaders on Saturday came to Topeka for a Volunteer Training Expo, which 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Capitol Plaza Hotel, 1717 S.W. Topeka Blvd.

The Capitol Plaza Hotel was a sea of green Saturday as more than 100 Girl Scout troop leaders flocked to the capital city for training.

The Volunteer Training Expo lasted from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for troop leaders of the Girl Scouts of N.E. Kansas and N.W. Missouri. It took leaders through a series skill-building courses.

“These expos help get troop leaders the skills they need to help give girls great experience to take the lead,” said spokeswoman Gina Garvin.

The training sessions are designed to build skills, she said, but also to reignite passion for Girl Scouts.

Saturday was the first expo in the Western Region, which includes Manhattan, Junction City and Topeka, in at least three years, Garvin said. Topeka alone has 100 of the 190 troops in the region.

“There’s something about putting it in your backyard,” she said.

For a first-year leader, Saturday was a mix of information, fun and encouragement, said Scarlett Fisher-Herreman. She started last year as a troop leader for a group of seven Daisy Scouts at Mater Dei Catholic School.

Fisher-Herreman said Saturday morning taught her how to engage parents and manage finances — all excellent training for a new leader.

Getting to network with other leaders throughout the region also helped provide reassurance and encouragement, she said.